Power up the grid

Electrical power comes to us
through an electric power
grid. The grid starts at a power
generating system, which sends
out the converted energy into a
flow of electrons—electricity. The
handoff from electrical transmission
to electrical distribution usually
happens at one of many substations.
(You may have seen some of these
older substations in Toronto,
disguised as houses, in residential
areas.) The substations take power
from transmission-level voltages
and distribute it to hundreds of
thousands of miles of lower voltage
distribution lines. From there it
reaches our homes and businesses
through meters.

The original “power grids” were local,
for example, a power generation
plant constructed at Niagara Falls
would supply a specific area with
electricity. But over the years,
individual grids have been connected
together, which means our electrical
power comes from many sources. In
Ontario, about 26% of our energy
comes from water, the other sources
are nuclear, coal and oil, natural
gas—and increasingly, wind, solar
and biomass.

The power grid for Toronto Hydro is
extremely complex. It continues to
expand, change, undergo upgrades
and maintenance in order to meet
growing and evolving needs. Two
of the biggest challenges in
recent history have been the
move to conserve energy
and the commitment to
reduce carbon emissions.
Smart Meters that wirelessly
communicate with utility
centres so both the utility
and the consumer can
better manage and track
the amount of energy
consumed have been
introduced in Toronto
homes.

The Smart Meters used by
Toronto Hydro measure
the energy used in a home
every hour and wirelessly
relay the information
collected to a neighborhood
station. This information is
then sent to a larger, citywide
station, which collects
and verifies the data,
sending information back
to the neighborhood station
regarding energy usage and
electricity supply.

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